Automobile Repair/Nissan/Maxima (4th Generation)/With only a screw driver
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Fig. #1: The cover is seen next to the gas pedal 
Fig. #2:The ECU is the sliver box next to the gas pedal
Tools/Parts needed[edit | edit source]
- A flat headed screw driver
- A pencil and paper to record the numbers
Procedure[edit | edit source]
- Turn the car on, but not the engine.
- To the right of gas pedal, there is a panel (see Fig. #1) attached to the center consul by two plastic screws, remove it.
- Now you should be able to see the ECU (see Fig. #2), a metal rectangular box, about one inch thick and four inches square. On the face of the side pointed at you there should be a screw covered by a transparent sticker with writing on it (unless the previous owner already removed it). Remove the sticker by pulling it off or just breaking through it with the screw driver. The sticker says "CAUTION DO NOT FORCE PAST STOP AFTER PERFORMING SELF DIAGNOSIS TURN SELECTOR FULLY COUNTERCLOCKWISE TO STOP".
- Turn the screw clockwise until it hits the stop (about one half turn), and wait 2 to 3 seconds and turn it back (counterclockwise wise) until it hits the back stop. DO NOT FORCE THE SCREW AFTER IT HITS THE STOP!
- Now look at you check engine light, it should be blinking. It will constantly repeat itself until the car is shut off. You have to read the blinks, the slow ones are the first digit of the number and the fast ones are the second digit. If you have multiple problems they will both be read one after the other. See Chart below for what each code means.
Resetting the check engine light[edit | edit source]
- To reset the light just turn the screw back and forth twice.
- Then just shut the car off and start the engine up and you're ready to go.
Check engine light codes and meanings[edit | edit source]
| Long blinks | Short blinks | Problem |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Camshaft position sensor |
| 1 | 2 | Mass air flow sensor |
| 1 | 3 | Engine coolant temperature sensor |
| 1 | 4 | Speed sensor |
| 1 | 11 | EVAP control system (flow) |
| 1 | 14 | Fuel injection system right bank (too rich) |
| 1 | 15 | Fuel injection system right bank (too lean) |
| 2 | 1 | Ignition circuit |
| 2 | 3 | Closed throttle position switch |
| 2 | 5 | Idle speed control |
| 2 | 9 | Fuel Injection system left bank (too rich) |
| 2 | 10 | Fuel Injection system left bank (too lean) |
| 3 | 1 | ECU |
| 3 | 2 | Exhaust gas recirculation system flow problem |
| 3 | 3 | Front left O2 sensor |
| 3 | 4 | Knock sensor |
| 3 | 5 | Exhaust gas recirculation temperature sensor |
| 3 | 6 | EGRC-BPT valve |
| 3 | 7 | Closed loop control |
| 3 | 8 | Closed loop control |
| 4 | 1 | Air intake temperature sensor |
| 4 | 2 | Fuel tank temperature sensor |
| 4 | 3 | Throttle position sensor |
| 4 | 7 | Crankshaft position sensor |
| 5 | 5 | No Malfunction |
| 5 | 3 | Front right O2 sensor |
| 5 | 4 | Automatic transmission control unit |
| 6 | 3 | Cylinder #6 misfire |
| 6 | 4 | Cylinder #5 misfire |
| 6 | 5 | Cylinder #4 misfire |
| 6 | 6 | Cylinder #3 misfire |
| 6 | 7 | Cylinder #2 misfire |
| 6 | 8 | Cylinder #1 misfire |
| 7 | 1 | Multiple cylinder misfire |
| 7 | 2 | Three way catalytic converter (right side) |
| 7 | 3 | Three way catalytic converter (left side) |
| 7 | 4 | Evaporative emission control system pressure sensor |
| 7 | 5 | Evaporative emission control system |
| 7 | 7 | Rear O2 sensor |
| 8 | 1 | Vacuum cut valve bypass valve |
| 8 | 2 | Crank position sensor |
| 8 | 3 | Absolute pressure sensor |
| 8 | 4 | Automatic transmission control unit |
| 8 | 6 | Evaporative emission canister purge control solenoid valve |
| 8 | 7 | Evaporative emission Canister purge control solenoid valve circuit |
| 9 | 1 | Front Right O2 sensor |
| 9 | 3 | Evaporative emission Canister vent control valve |
| 9 | 5 | Crankshaft position sensor |
| 9 | 8 | Engine coolant temperature sensor |
| 10 | 1 | Front left O2 sensor |
| 10 | 3 | Park and Neutral position switch |
| 10 | 5 | EGRC solenoid valve |
| 10 | 8 | Evaporative emission canister purge volume control valve |
| 11 | 1 | Inhibitor switch |
| 11 | 2 | Revolution sensor |
| 11 | 3 | Improper shifting to first gear (Automatic transmission) |
| 11 | 4 | Improper shifting to second gear (Automatic transmission) |
| 11 | 5 | Improper shifting to third gear (Automatic transmission) |
| 11 | 6 | Improper shifting to fourth gear (Automatic transmission) |
| 11 | 7 | Solenoid valve lock up function |
| 12 | 1 | Shift solenoid B (Automatic transmission) |
| 12 | 3 | Overrun clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission) |
| 12 | 4 | Torque converter clutch solenoid valve (Automatic transmission) |
| 12 | 5 | Line pressure solenoid valve (Automatic transmission) |
| 12 | 6 | Throttle position sensor (Automatic transmission) |
| 12 | 7 | Engine speed signal |
| 12 | 8 | Fluid temperature sensor |
| 13 | 2 | MAP/BARO Switch Solenoid Valve |
| 13 | 5 | Fuel pump control module |
| 13 | 8 | Cooling fan |